Isaac b



I. B. K'LEINERT.

Ear-Muff.'

Patented May-11. 1880.

ATTORNEY IKNvENToR WITNESSES NJEYERS. PIOTD-L'TNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D4 C.

UNITED' STATES PATENT Ormes.

ISAAC B. KLEINERT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EAR-MUFF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,364, dated May 11, 1880.

Application filed December 29, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, ISAAC B. KLEINERT, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wired Ear-Mutis; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled' in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in wired earmuffs.

Heretofore ear muft's or protectors have been provided with a continuous wire loop of oblong form, inserted in the article around the opening for the ear, the wire being separated from the ear only by the thickness of the material of which the ear-muff is made.

Ear-muffs of such construction have been found defectivevand objectionable in use for the following reasons: First, the continuous wire loop encircling the ear-opening is necessarily made smaller than the ear, in order to retain the ear muif or protector against displacement when once applied. As the opening within the continuous wire loop is fixed and unalterable, much trouble and vexation is caused inattempting to secure the ear-mutt' in place, and it can only be accomplished when 'the eXible part of the ear is doubled or folded,

and then forced through the ,wire loop.

Again, ear-muffs of the construction referred to have been found defective, and have in a great measure been condemned, owing to the fact-that the wire loop, protected only by the covering of which the article is formed, produces a harsh and unpleasant sensation when secured in place, the wire loop not accommodating itselt' to the irregularities of the ear, and forming a comparatively sharp and uncomfortable base or support for the ear-mutt.

The object of my invention is to obviate the defects above set forth; and to that end it consists, first, in an ear-muff provided with a fork shaped wire spring, the disconnected ends of the spring terminating near the lower portion of the earfmuft, whereby the opening for the insertion of the ear may be enlarged to allow of the ready insertion of the ear, and when once applied the ear-muff is retained in and Fig. 3 a transverse, section of the article. 65

Fig. 4 is a detached View of the wire spring.

A represents the outer portion of the earmuff, which may be made of velvet or other soft and pliable material, and is preferably provided with a lining, a, of iannel, fur, silk, or other material.

B represents the inner portion of the earmuff, the outer edge of which is secured to the outer edge ofthe outer portion, A. Part B is formed with an opening, G, for the insertion of the ear, said opening being encircled by a cushioned ange, D, which is preferably formed of soft flexible material, and made to project outwardly to constitute ya soft and yielding bearing for the ear-muff upon the ear.

E is a forked or U-shaped spring, preferably made of wire, the upper or curved end of which is secured in rear of the cushioned liange D, while the depending arms c c may be secured at a little distance from the cushioned flange, as shown in the drawings, to prevent any un due pressure on the lobe of the ear.

Instead of forming a cushioned flange about the ear-opening, a flat cushion may be formed, said opening and the wire placed back of said ilat cushion 5 and hence I would have it understood that my invention covers a flat or an outwardly-proj ecting cushioned llange within the wire and forming a cushioned bearing therefor.

My improved ear-muli' is readily applied to the ear, owing to the fact that the outwardlyprojecting cushioned liange D forms a guide, and enables the ear to be easily slipped into the ear-mutt'. The cushioned flange D serves as a soft yielding bearing for the article upon the ear, and renders the device both comfortable and pleasant to the wearer.

IOO

The U-shaped or forked spring insures sufcient pressure of the cushioned iiange upon the ear to retain the article against displacement, and also serves as a stiffener to prevent the distortion of the ear-muft. The cushioned flange, being interposed between the ear and the spring, prevents the latter from cutting orV bearing harshly on the ear.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An ear muff or protector having` a U or fork shaped Wire located adjacent to the earopening, substantially as set forth.

2. Anear-lnuff having a U orfork shaped I5 Wirel located adjacent to the ear-opening and a cushioned ange encircling the opening for the reception of the ear, substantially as set Jforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I zo have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of December, 1879.

ISAAC B. KLEINERT.

Witnesses GEORGE WITT BoNsHY, J. STRAHL. 

